Ministers are set to approve a new North Sea oilfield off the coast of the Shetland Islands months before Britain hosts a global climate change summit, reports say.
Those behind the Cambo oilfield plan to extract 150 million barrels of oil under proposals handed to Downing Street by Siccar Point Energy, the Times reported.
The oilfield, which will emit more than three million tonnes of carbon during its lifespan, could operate until 2050 – by which time Britain has vowed to be net carbon neutral.
But the Cambo development will not be included in Boris Johnson‘s ‘climate compatibility checkpoint’, which will decide whether new projects are ‘compatible with the UK’s climate change objectives.’
Environmental activists have already called on the Government to block the proposal, which comes just months before the UN’s Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow.
Those behind the Cambo oilfield plan to extract 150 million barrels of oil under proposals handed to Downing Street by Siccar Point Energy. Pictured: Offshore drilling rig in Scotland
They claim it does not fit with the Government’s plan to help limit global emissions and keep a worldwide temperature increase to 1.5C by 2050.
It also contradicts findings by the International Energy Agency, who recently said no new oil and gas fields should be developed if we are to reach this goal.
However, the Cambo development remains subject to a consultation by the Oil and Gas Authority.
The oilfield, discovered in 2002 by Hess, is approximately 125km north-west of the Shetland Islands and is one of the deepest fields ever to be discovered in Northern Europe.
It is located 30km south-west of the Rosebank field and 50km north of the Schiehallion field.
Environmental campaigners have today reacted with fury to the proposal.
The Scottish Government hasn’t yet objected to the plans, despite the project leaders aiming to keep extracting oil until 2050 – five years after Scotland has committed to reach net-zero emissions.
Friends of the Earth Scotland Climate Campaigner Caroline Rance said: ‘Burning fossil fuels is the key driver of climate breakdown and every extra barrel of oil and gas produced speeds us closer to greater devastation.
‘The climate impact from producing and burning the oil and gas from the Cambo field alone is equivalent to ten times Scotland’s annual emissions.
‘It would be completely indefensible for the UK Government to approve this development, and would further damage the UK’s credibility on climate action ahead of the UN climate conference COP26 later this year.
‘Both the UK and Scottish Governments must end their hypocritical support for drilling for every last drop of climate-wrecking oil and gas, and instead develop a clear plan for winding down fossil fuel extraction while building up support for retraining workers and supporting communities.
‘That has to start with saying no to Cambo.
The oilfield, which will emit more than three million tonnes of carbon during its lifespan, could operate until 2050 – by which time Britain has vowed to be net carbon neutral. Pictured: Another oil rig
Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured left with Attenborough in February 2020) said there was ‘no better person to build momentum for further change’ than Sir David Attenborough
‘The UK’s drilling plans in already operating oil and gas fields will far exceed the UK’s share under the Paris climate goals – further extraction will blast through safe climate limits.
‘A managed phase out of oil and gas is necessary to protect people who work in this industry, their communities and the climate. This means no new oil and gas licences and a plan for a rapid and fair transition away from fossil fuels.’
‘It is an obscenity that these plans are being progressed just months before the UN climate talks are due to take place in Glasgow.’
Rachel Kennerley, international climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland added: ‘Continuing to allow the North Sea to be drained of oil and gas would be yet another hammer blow to the UK government’s international leadership ambitions ahead of this year’s crucial summit.
‘Ministers must ensure a fair transition for workers and communities reliant on these industries as part of a strategy to rapidly shift to clean energy from the sun, wind and tides.
‘If ministers are serious about facing up to the climate crisis they must end their support for climate wrecking fossil fuels at home and abroad.’
It comes as the UN’s Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow in November will bring together world leaders to try to agree a plan to tackle climate change.
Sir David Attenborough, 95, has been named the summit’s People’s Advocate and will address political leaders at the event.
In a video message released last month, Sir David said: ‘The epidemic has shown us how crucial it is to find agreement among nations if we are to solve such worldwide problems.
‘But the problems that await us within the next five, ten years are even greater.
‘It is crucial that these meetings in Glasgow, Cop26, have success, and that at last the nations will come together to solve the crippling problems that the world faces.’